Merovingians
Pre-Carolingian Frankish dynasty
The Merovingians were the dynasty of Frankish kings who ruled much of Western Europe from the 5th to 8th centuries.
The name comes from Merovech, a semi-legendary founder.
The later Merovingian kings became figureheads while mayors of the palace held real power, until the Carolingians formally replaced them.
The Merovingians are sometimes called the "long-haired kings" for their uncut hair, a symbol of royal status.
First Merovingian ruler
- successionFollowing in order
- regencySubstitute monarch's authority
- bloodlineAncestry through generations
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
French winemaking region
- AquitaineSouthwestern French region
- ParisFrance's chief city
- ReimsFrench coronation site
- GermanicOf Teutonic language stock
Gaul · federation · tribes · warlords
Ritual water purification ceremony
- CatholicismPapal Christian denomination
- conversionAct of changing states
- paganismNon-monotheistic religious practice
- ReimsFrench coronation site
monasteries · saints · relics · bishops · Tours · orthodoxy · ecclesiastical · hagiography
Germanic tribe, sacked Rome
- conquestDefeating and seizing control
- GaulRoman-era Western Europe
- expansionIncrease in scope
- BurgundiansGermanic people, fifth century
Substitute monarch's authority
- rivalryOngoing contest between opponents
- vengeanceRetaliation for injury
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- assassinationMurder of a prominent figure
poisoning · court politics · queenship · consort · dowager
Clovis
First Merovingian ruler
- successionFollowing in order
- regencySubstitute monarch's authority
- bloodlineAncestry through generations
inheritance · legitimacy · usurpation · interregnum · dynasty
Burgundy
French winemaking region
Germanic · Gaul · federation · tribes · warlords
baptism
Ritual water purification ceremony
- CatholicismPapal Christian denomination
- conversionAct of changing states
- paganismNon-monotheistic religious practice
Reims · monasteries · saints · relics · bishops · Tours · orthodoxy · ecclesiastical · hagiography · abbey
Visigoths
Germanic tribe, sacked Rome
Burgundians · battle · plunder · tribute · warband · comitatus
regency
Substitute monarch's authority
- rivalryOngoing contest between opponents
- vengeanceRetaliation for injury
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
assassination · poisoning · court politics · queenship · consort · dowager
- Medieval Europekings, queens, knights, castles, castle
- ParisEiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre-Dame, Seine, Montmartre
- 600sMuhammad, Islam, Mecca, Medina, Tang Dynasty
- 6th CenturyTheodora, Byzantine Empire, Hagia Sophia, Corpus Juris Civilis, St. Benedict
- Ancient FranceGaul, Gauls, Franks, Celts, Carolingians
- DynastiesHabsburgs, Ming Dynasty, Bourbons, Tang Dynasty, Tudors